Whether consumers are seasoned swimmers or just dipping their toes into the water, they will have a better experience if they gear up with the best accessories. Thankfully, this need for a better experience opens up opportunities for businesses to cater to this growing market. And by staying ahead of the curve with trendy gear, sellers can easily amplify their aquatic inventories.
From innovative goggles to sleek swim caps, swimming accessories are evolving faster than ever. Keep reading to explore the hottest trends that are set to improve your consumers’ poolside experience this year.
Table of Contents
Swimming accessory market outlook
5 hot swimming accessory trends to stock in 2024
Final words
Swimming accessory market outlook
The global swimming accessories market reached a value of US$ 12.05 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 19.08 billion by 2030, reflecting a 5.47% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the forecast period (2024 to 2030). Technological developments and an increasing focus on comfort and performance are the market’s major drivers. The increased focus on recreational and competitive swimming also boosts demand for swimming accessories.
The swimwear segment is the dominant segment, accounting for a huge chunk of the swimming accessories market. North America is also leading the regional market due to the presence of more sports enthusiasts in all age groups. Experts also predict the region will contribute 33% to the global market’s growth over the forecast period.
5 hot swimming accessory trends to stock in 2024
Swimming suits
Swimming suits have one goal: maximum performance when moving through the water. While some men throw on boxy shorts when diving, the reality is such outfits create unnecessary drag when swimming. That’s why consumers need something sleeker to glide smoothly through the water—and swimming suits fit the bill! However, men and women use different swimming suits for the best swimming experience.
One-piece swimsuits are popular for women, especially beginners, due to their simplicity and coverage. Although they fully cover the torso, ladies can get them in various styles, including racerback, scoopback, and high-neck. The best part is that one-piece swimsuits are still growing in popularity! They have attracted 201,000 searches in February 2024, a 30% interest boost from January’s 135,000.
Two-piece swimsuits are another popular option for women. They’re the go-to for recreational swimmers and women seeking more freedom of movement. Two-piece swimsuits may not be as popular as their one-piece variants, but they are impressive. According to Google data, they got 27,100 searches in February, moving from 18,100 in January 2024.
What about men? One of the top choices for male consumers is briefs (or speedos), especially for competitive swimming. These swimming suits have minimal coverage, high-cut legs, and low-rise waists, offering maximum movement freedom and minimal drag. Speedos may be the most popular swimsuit ever. Searches for them reached 550,000 in February 2024!
Trunks are another versatile and popular option for men. They offer more coverage than trunks and are more suitable for recreational swimming. Swim trunks grossed 90,500 searches in February 2024, growing from 74,000 in January.
Pull buoys
Pull buoys are essential swimming accessories perfect for beginners and experienced swimmers alike to improve technique, build strength, and enhance overall performance in the water. These buoyant foam or inflatable devices help immobilize the legs, allowing consumers to focus more on arm strokes, hand entry, and pull techniques.
While most pull buoys come with classic figure-eight shapes, newer models now feature targeted designs to help isolate specific muscle groups. Even better, some buoys offer adjustable openings or resistance bands, allowing consumers to customize the engagement for different muscle groups—and these appeal to consumers who prefer a more personalized experience.
Newer designs are also entering the market. These styles shift away from the classic to more anatomical curves with anti-slip textures. These updates help prevent chafing while providing a more comfortable grip. Pull buoys have also registered a popularity uptick in 2024. They started the year with 27,100 searches but entered February with 33,100 inquiries.
Swimming caps
Many people think they don’t need swimming caps. After all, they don’t keep one’s hair completely dry. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true swimming caps don’t keep one’s hair dry, consumers need them for other reasons. First, they keep the hair out of the face while swimming. Second, swimming caps offer some protection from the corrosive effects of the chemicals packed in pools.
And 90,500 people seem to agree with this sentiment. That’s the number of people who have searched for swimming caps in February 2024. The stats increased from January’s 60,500 inquiries—it looks like many people finally understand the importance of swimming caps. These accessories are also necessary for reducing drag, which helps to increase hydrodynamics and swim speed.
One amazing trend in this market is latex caps. Consumers love them for their thin, lightweight, and stretchy designs, which make them easy to wear and take off. More importantly, latex swimming caps provide snug fits, making them the go-to for training and competitions.
Another popular option is silicone caps. These variants are thicker and more durable than their latex counterparts, resulting in greater resistance to stretching and tearing. While silicone caps provide comfortable fits, they only appeal to swimmers searching for extra durability and longevity in their swimming caps.
Lycra caps are another great alternative to latex and silicone variants. They feature stretchy materials that easily conform to the wearer’s head shape. As a result, these caps provide a softer, more comfortable fit, perfect for recreational swimming, water aerobics, or those with latex allergies.
Nose clips
Taking a dive can be problematic for some consumers, especially when water enters the nostrils. But thankfully, nose clips are here to help prevent that from happening. These swimming accessories seal nostrils shut, reducing the risk of water inhalation, which can cause discomfort, coughing, or nasal irritation.
Nose clips are also life savers for swimmers who experience sinus issues, allergies, or chlorine sensitivity. With these accessories equipped, consumers can focus on their strokes and breathing techniques without distractions. This is why nose clips are raking in 18,100 searches monthly in 2024.
Plastic nose clips are the most common types available. Manufacturers equip them with soft pads or cushions that gently grip the nostrils for a comfortable fit. Alternatively, consumers can go for wire clips. These variants have flexible wireframes with silicone pads that also fit snugly—but with adjustability features to accommodate various nose shapes and sizes.
Earplugs
Like the nose, water can also enter the ears during swimming sessions and cause annoying problems. But that’s where earplugs come in. These accessories help block water out of the ears, helping to reduce the risk of ear infections, swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), and other ear-related issues caused by prolonged exposure to moisture.
Earplugs are one of the more popular swimming accessories. They have consistently gotten 201,000 searches monthly in 2024—many swimmers want to protect their ears from water damage. But there’s more. Ear plugs come in three varieties, each offering something different.
The first is silicone earplugs. Although they are the most common, consumers love them for their ability to conform to the ear canal’s shape. Silicone ear plugs are also reusable, washable, and available in various sizes and shapes.
The second option is foam plugs. These varieties use softer, compressible materials that expand to fit the ear canal’s shape. More importantly, foam earplugs are incredibly comfortable and disposable, making them convenient for one-time use.
Lastly, custom molded ear plugs offer the most personalized fit, matching all the unique contours of the wearer’s ears. Although they provide maximum comfort and protection, consumers will need professional help to use them.
Final words
Swimming is an amazing way for consumers to have fun and stay fit. It’s also quite competitive, meaning some people must train to practice their techniques. That’s where swimming accessories come in. Consumers need things like swimming suits, swimming caps, pull buoys, nose clips, and earplugs for a top-notch recreational or training experience.
